re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?

quote:I quit for 4 years and didn't see any way in hell I would ever drink again. Well, ...

Spent another 8 years drunk.

When I hit 5 years I stopped going to meetings. In year 6 I knew I couldn't drink. In year 7 I knew I shouldn't drink. In year 8 I figured I could drink, but would wait. In year 9 I drank and was a fricking nut. A lot of bad shite happened.

At year 17 now, I know I have another drunk in me, but I doubt I have another recovery. That's enough for me to stay sober. I have no problem saying that I am afraid to drink, because I have no idea how quickly I will crash and burn. I told one of my law partners that if I start to drink again, just shoot me and put me out of my misery quick.

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by RogerTheShrubber on 6/27/13 at 10:38 pm to IonaTiger)

quote: that I am afraid to drink, because I have no idea how quickly I will crash and burn. I told one of my law partners that if I start to drink again, just shoot me and put me out of my misery quick.

Yep, next time for me would be it. I didn't have much left in me when I sobered up the last time.

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by lsu480 on 6/27/13 at 11:08 pm to RogerTheShrubber)

quote:Yeah, I had some superman complex. Figured if anyone could beat the odds it would be me.. Even after failing the first time. Ego will do that to you.

I get high on my drug of choice one day a month and I tell my wife every single time BEFORE I do. I have never lied. I know it probably goes against everything people are taught but it works for me. I have a blast the one night I do it and then I am good and enjoy that feeling of being sober again. After about a month I get bored and I do it again, but only once a month and always at least 4 weeks apart. Its like just enough for me to know I cant go back to it. I know I am ranting but I am trying to explain what works for me in case it might work for anyone else.

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by McLemore on 6/28/13 at 12:32 am to lsu480)

quote:Exactly! The only problem with taking illegal drugs is that they are illegal, they are expensive and sometimes you can't get them for a few hours/days so you feel like shite until you get them again. With a doctors prescription all of those issues go away, at least in my situation.

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by RogerTheShrubber on 6/28/13 at 12:40 am to McLemore)

It's all good.. Last time I was in a hospital, the doc said the next drink may be my last. Pissed me off so much I checked myself out of the hospital and went to get drunk. They did a sonogram of my organs and said I was in really bad shape.

Surprised at how the body can recover. But, I live to be 70 (staying sober) I'll be surprised.

The idea of watching kids and grandkids grow up is a great motivator. I'd like to hang around long enough to watch them grow up.

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by LooseCannon22282 on 6/28/13 at 1:30 am to whit)

I drank a lot when I was in my early 20's. I'm in my early 30's now and I've cut back significantly.

I did drugs recreationally in high school and a few years after that. I've had a job since I was 22 that requires a drug test. So drugs haven't been issue since then.

I think I've just gotten more tired of drinking than anything. For about 5 years now my drinking has really gotten under control. I think its due to the fact that I workout more. That and I don't associate with people who do it too much.

I had a family member who had a drinking problem when I was a kid so I think that had something to do with getting involved with it in the first place.

but the fact is I just feel and think a lot different now than I did when I was really having a problem with it. I've learned a lot from my experiences and just understand that some demons will always be there. I think for awhile I was just impatient and felt like it was hopeless to try and do something about my problem. But when you actually start to fight like hell to do something about your problem, you start to amaze yourself.

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by Motengator on 6/28/13 at 8:31 am to whit)

You asked, I'll share.

17 years in the bottle. 3 years in prison. I had multiple "bottoms". When I tried to cut back, my body would shut down and I would have seizures. I was killing myself by drinking and I was killing myself by not drinking. I HAD to have it to function. AA helped me in the begining but ultimately, I had to get down on my knees and ask God to take away my desire to drink. He did.

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by RealityTiger on 6/28/13 at 9:32 am to wasteland)

Meetings aren't the same to me now as they were in the beginning. In the beginning, I tried to stay busy and occupied with AA and meetings to keep the thoughts out my head. And quite frankly, the people who I used to hang out with only knew me when I was loaded (which was all the time). When I got sober, they wanted nothing to do with me. Many of them didn't like the change and it made it uncomfortable for them and me. I said good riddance. So, my new (real) friends (the fellowship) became my group to hang out with.

Over the years, I have learned to not only work and apply the steps, but to live them. Also, another poster mentioned sponsorship. VERY IMPORTANT. Share my thoughts and actions instead of feeding off on my own bull shite.

I do have a home group and try to make it once a week. But I'm not hitting up 7 meetings a week like I was in the beginning.

The one thing I always try to keep fresh on my mind (which going to a meeting weekly accomplishes) is a reminder of who I am and what I am.

The biggest downfall to any alkie/addict is getting your life back together, excitement creeps in, and then we get cocky/complacent thinking we got it all under control. At that point, the clock starts and it's only a matter of time. Hopefully, a resurgence of humility will come back into play and the clock gets stopped.

I've not only seen that scenario, but lived it for an 18 year journey (the last 8 of those 18 have been in continuous sobriety).

I used to knight for it, but don't anymore. I just share my experience, strength and hope. If somebody wants to scoff at it, so be it. I know in my heart what works and what doesn't. I've seen it probably 250 times (literally) in my life, if I was to put an estimated number on it.

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by ThatsAFactJack on 6/28/13 at 9:32 am to SuperSaint)

quote:SuperSaint

quote:Loved ones of addicts don't get enough praise. They stick around through the hard times and suffer just as much as the addict but don't even get to enjoy the act of being high/drunk, they just get the pain

This x1000. My wife is a recovering addict and alcoholic. She has been sober 1 year and 1 month. My biggest struggle is she basically has no memory of the hell she put us thru, so I don't think she will ever fully appreciate me sticking by her side.

I am so grateful she found sobriety. She went thru 60 day IP and now attends AA at least twice a week and reads the big book. I also attend Al-Anon and read.

Congratulations to all that remain sober and committed to sobriety. Your loved ones and family appreciate/love and are so proud, even if you dont notice it.

re: Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics of the OT, what keeps you sober?(Posted by Motengator on 6/28/13 at 9:49 am to wasteland)

quote:well, thats kinda the point of AA

Not really the point, it's just a part. The primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. There are steps in the Big Book(which is devinely inspired) to help an alcoholic get sober but ultimately how one gets there is up to the individual. Some fight it and work for it forever with no avail, others have it bestowed upon them. I don't go to AA anymore. I'll sponsor if asked but I don't go looking for people to help either. I'm always available for advice or my story if someone wants it but that is the answer. Someone has to want it, to get it. For me, for now, drinking is not an issue. I let God lead me daily and I don't have to fight a losing battle. I can mix drinks for family and friends or go to parties. It doesn't bother me. It is no longer a part of my life.

Thats the key part - divinely. Not Christian, not Jewish, not any defined religion It is the god of your own choosing. It is far from a Christian organization. It allows your to develop your own idea of a higher power. BUT, you have to be able to put your will and your life into the care of that god. For me, the instant I got out of my own head and took step 3 my life got a hell of a lot better.